Yes it has! In 2002, we started offering stock footage of Texas for sale in broadcast quality standard definition formats. Now our stock footage is fleshed out in true HD (1080-24p) and we are excited about our Industry Sponsor status with Texas Motion Picture Alliance. We have dropped prices on our footage to be competitive in a tough economy, and are now donating $5.00 for every HD clip sold on our sites to TXMPA.

If you are looking for stock footage for your next production, I hope you will check with us to see what we have, and know that your purchase is helping support an independent media professional and the excellent work of the TXMPA. If we don’t have the footage you seek, we will kindly refer you to other vendors who may be able to help.

There are a lot of opportunities to purchase stock footage on the Internet, and from the big providers (read: big corporations), the guy who actually went out and produced the footage only gets a small portion of the purchase price. We personally spun the wheels on thousands of miles of pavement to bring this footage to you, in a professional manner, at a reasonable price. If you have a question about a location or any other details regarding this footage, you can call and talk to us directly. You won’t get that from some of the “firms” that market footage online.

From camping out in the Palo Duro Canyon to hoofing it down the beach in Puerto Rico, I personally shot every frame offered for sale on these sites, and appreciate your support.

Unique Pricing – Personalized Service
Have a cool shot at the Color Bar, the online store! Unlike many stock footage providers, CityB-roll and TexasB-roll doesn’t require you to purchase a pre-determined collection to get a discounted price. The store is structured so that you can mix and match clips from any category into a collection of footage that works for you. There are price breaks for quantities of clips purchased, all designed to fit your individual needs.

In the News
In Dallas, Texas, Director of Photography Tracy Ready is hosting a re-launch of the stock footage resource TexasB-roll.com and the official launch of the sister website CityB-roll.com.
His primary company Trace Productions provides professional video production services to a wide client base including major US corporate clients, broadcast and cable television outlets, and independent documentary producers. In 2002, Tracy created TexasB-roll.com providing royalty free broadcast quality stock footage online. Since then TexasB-roll clips have been used in productions for Sea World of Texas, Wachovia Bank, The Salvation Army, Cadbury Schweppes (Dr. Pepper), Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas, University of Texas at Arlington and many more.

In 2007, the focus shifted to high definition acquisition, using the Panasonic HVX-200 P2 camera, and rebuilding the library in HD. Additionally, the CityB-roll.com domain was acquired, as a sister site to TexasB-roll, reflecting the diverse nature of the ever expanding library. Web Designer Clay Meyers, owner of CDM Grafx, began a complete overhaul of the existing TexasB-roll site and the creation of the CityB-roll site, creating a common database of clips to be offered on both websites. Tracy Ready worked closely with Creative Editor David Henson, owner of Distilled Images to import, archive, create previews of the significant amount of new HD footage in the database, and to create a new demo for the sites in HD. Freelance Production Assistant Jason Meyers tackled the job of clipping and logging the new footage.

In addition to Texas locations (every major city in HD) CityB-roll and TexasB-roll now offer HD clips shot in several other U.S. states, plus a nice variety of other non-location specific scenes. More than eight hundred HD clips are now available with new footage added monthly, so please check back often. Still looking for broadcast quality, standard definition 4:3 aspect ratio footage? We have it, at drastically reduced rates. Don’t see what you are looking for? Call for quote on production, or visit Trace Productions online.

True HD – Royalty FreeTexasB-roll and CityB-roll HD collections are composed of true 1080 High Definition footage, not HDV! Be sure to know what you are getting when shopping online – there is a difference!
This footage is professionally shot (tripod, static shots and smooth moves, sequencing) with the Panasonic HVX-200 P2 HD camera in 1080 24p (except where noted).
All TexasB-roll and CityB-roll clips are royalty free, meaning your purchase allows usage in local commercials, corporate communications, marketing, tourism, electronic press kits, industrial films, independent short films, and more. For usage in national commercials or feature films, you must contact TexasB-roll for pricing and individual release. You may not resell TexasB-roll or CityB-roll stock footage, except for as part of your finished edited program, and credited to TexasB-roll.com.

Questions? Call 972.437.4433 or email footage@texasb-roll.com

Every HD Purchase Supports the Texas Motion Picture Alliance
TexasB-roll HD is an Industry Sponsor of Texas Motion Picture Alliance. This organization is playing a pivotal role in bringing video, film, television and gaming business to Texas. Beginning in June 2009, for each HD clip purchased, TexasB-roll will donate $5.00 to the TXMPA, as part of this sponsorship agreement.

Buy from the ones who shot it!
Your purchase of CityB-roll and TexasB-roll footage supports the independent media professional and Texas Motion Picture Alliance, not a faceless corporation.
For links to all professional and social sites related to Tracy Ready visit TraceTV.tv
Visit the TraceTV Blog for current articles, items of interest, ramblings about Footage, Travel, Music, Food, Documentaries, more…

Hats off to the Dallas Public Library for hosting Texas Music Mini-Conference with an amazing line up of speakers, authors, historians – all for FREE. We attended these sessions in Dallas recently. It was a very informative day, and we received some very positive feedback on the trailers for South Texas Soul: The San Antonio Sound and Dallas Electric: The Texas Blues Story.
From Dallas Public Library Site:
“Twelve sessions will be offered covering a wide range of performers and styles, including Stamps-Baxter and Southern Gospel music, Texas blues, rock bands from the 60s, two noted women in Texas music, the Texas International Pop Festival, jazz in Texas, the Big D Jamboree, and more. Two film screenings will be included in the day: Teen-a-Go-Go and South Dallas Pop. The full day’s schedule is now available, as is biographical information about program presenters.”
SEE this site for all the details: Texas Music Mini-Conference

We were quite honored to be invited to have a small part in the day. During the opening registration at the Texas Music Mini-Conference we displayed trailers for two music related HD documentaries currently in production. These projects are being produced with support of the 501C-3 non-profit Still Kickin’ Foundation. See previous blog post: South Texas Soul: The San Antonio Sound

South Texas Soul: The San Antonio Sound – YouTube

Be sure to click the “HD” button on YouTube video to watch in highest resolution.

Dallas Electric: The Texas Blues Story – YouTube

We need to update this video on YouTube with new higher resolution HD setting, but you get the idea…
The native format for these documentaries is 1080 24p DVCPro HD, needless to say, YouTube doesn’t really do justice!
Thanks for visiting…

On Thanksgiving evening 2008, TNT aired a profile piece on Wayman Tisdale, former NBA star who was battling bone cancer, with a love of music. The segment aired on the TNT program “Inside the NBA” with Charles Barkley.

The network contracted Bob Humphrey Video Services who hired Director of Photography Tracy Ready and Sound Technician Bob Fazio to work with TNT producer John O’Connor and Correspondent Jim Huber on the story.

Note from Tracy Ready:
Sadly, Wayman Tisdale lost his battle to cancer, but he was a true champion of the spirit. I had the opportunity to shoot this story for TNT, thanks to my good friend and colleague Bob Humphrey. Wayman seemed so strong, so vital when we were shooting on location with him, that I never dreamed he would be gone after a few short months. When we met him, he was being fitted with his prosthetic leg, and his good nature and positive attitude made everyone feel welcome, it what would have been for any of us, a very awkward situation. I can honestly say he was one of the most kind, gentle, joyful individuals I have ever met.
When Sound Mixer Bob Fazio and I were driving back to Texas from the production in Oklahoma, we talked at great length about how fortunate we were to have had the experience of being in Wayman’s presence for a couple of days. In our business we meet and shoot with all types of people from celebrities to scumbags, politicians, visionaries and air-heads alike. There are very few shoots that stick with you as being memorable, and this was certainly at the top of memorable occasions in my career. Most remarkable, is that Wayman’s moving performance at his brother’s church left no doubt in our minds that we were in the presence of greatness, and had just witnessed something none of us will ever forget.
I am eternally grateful to Bob Humphrey for having the confidence in me to shoot on his behalf, and to John O’Connor at TNT to have had this once in a lifetime experience. I am also sad to say goodbye to an amazing presence in life – Wayman Tisdale.
————

Tracy Ready is a Director of Photography / Writer / Producer based in Dallas, Texas.

South Texas Soul: The San Antonio Sound – Augie Meyers, Doug Sahm and the history and influence of South Texas on popular music of today. Documentary filmmaker Tracy Ready examines the influence of German, Polish and Irish immigrants in South Texas on popular music styles including Country, Tejano, Blues and Rock and Roll, from a unique perspective.

Musician Augie Meyers has taken the music of San Antonio to audiences the world over through performances and recordings dating back to the 1950’s. His long list of credits include Grammy award winning albums and extensive touring with Sir Douglas Quintet and Texas Tornados, solo albums dating back to the early 1970’s, motion picture soundtracks, and performance credits on landmark albums for a host of influential American musicians including Bob Dylan, Doug Sahm and John Hammond, Jr.

Meyers’ life as the son of Polish immigrants, who grew up in the multi-cultural melting pot that is San Antonio and then took that sound to the world, is the central focal point of the documentary, but the story begins much earlier.

The South Texas Soul will follow the story and musical influence of the earliest European immigrants to Texas, and carry it through to the modern age. The film will weave interviews and insights from working musicians of today, historians and fans with archival photos and rare performance footage. It traces the earliest entry of the accordion to the south Texas to the story of Augie Meyers, the Sir Douglas Quintet, and the Texas Tornados, and beyond to a new generation of the South Texas sound, carried on by such artists as Los Lonely Boys, Charlie and Bruce Robison, Robert Earl Keen and Shawn Sahm’s Tex-Mex Experience.

Tracy Ready will write, direct and produce the documentary in High Definition (1080 24p) with archival footage and photos from the past.

STATUS ANALYSIS:

Initial principal interviews were conducted in San Antonio in 2008 with Augie Meyers and Jim Beal, Jr. historian and music writer for San Antonio Express News. Additional footage of Augie in session recording his current solo album at Blue Cat Studios was also acquired as a starting point for the film.

Included also in the film will be never before seen interview and performance footage of Augie Meyers in an interview with Tracy Ready in 1989.

Tracy would like to thank Shawn Sahm and Clay Meyers and their families for their assistance in this project.

Support the making of this film with tax deductible donation to Still Kickin’ Foundation, a 501 C-3 non profit organization dedicated to capturing the stories of older Americans who have done great things late in life.
Please visit: Still Kickin’ Foundation

Austin, Texas
March 4, 2009
An overcast sky gave way to a beautiful day in Austin as hundreds of people in the moving image industries (film, video, gaming) converged on the Texas State Capitol showing support for legislation which, if passed, will help repair the severely damaged industry in our state. It was an eye-opening experience for me, a Director of Photography, as I spend most of my time working on small crew productions, with little interaction with others in my industry. So, to be on the steps of the Capitol with a nice crowd who all have similar interests helped me understand the scope of the industry and how each of us play a part in a vital economic engine of the state.
This is an important cause, which has ripple effects to a multitude of support businesses, including hotels, restaurants, rental car companies, and on and on. Statistics show that we have lost more than $500 million in revenue and more than 7000 jobs across the state in recent years. Why? Because other states, most notably Louisiana and New Mexico, instituted major tax incentives to lure big budget projects to their states, and it has worked. Many of our fellow Texans have had to move out of state or commute back and forth to these neighboring states in order to stay in business. Given our long history with film production in Texas, this is a crying shame.
See Films Shot in Texas since 1910

The Texas Motion Picture Alliance is a statewide grass roots organization that I am proud to be a part of, and it is only through their tireless efforts that this legislation exists and has a chance at reversing the trend of jobs and revenue related to moving image industries shifting to other states.

This is an effort which should concern ALL Texans, not just those of us working directly in the industry, because television, film and gaming production in the state brings more jobs in various related industries, and because we at one time were considered “the third coast” for film production, and we have seen it seep away. There are many projects where Texas would be the first choice for production, because of the great locations available, and well trained, well equipped crews, but we are losing out because of the incentives offered by our neighboring states, and others around the country. Once this business is completely gone, it will be hard to bring it back.
Please support HB 873 and SB 605. It’s important to all of us.

“Our lobbying effort is a community affair. It will take the efforts of all of us in the industry to make the enhanced incentive program a reality. Lobby Day 2009 was a phenomenal success and certainly raised industry awareness among the legislators. It is my honor as President of TXMPA to be part of this immense team.

We participated in the initial hearing on HB 873 on Wednesday, March 4 during our Lobby Day efforts. The witnesses that spoke on our behalf did so passionately and from the heart. Their testimonies spoke to the problems facing our industry in Texas and to the solutions for bring the business back. The committee members listened and I believe understood our message. I think we will make it out of committee and look forward to the placement of our bill on the House Calendar. At this juncture I feel good about our legislation passing but I know there will be challenges ahead especially on the appropriation front.

I would like to thank everyone for their efforts. Without all of you we wouldn’t stand a chance.

Don Stokes
President TXMPA

From David Friedman:

“Throughout TXMPA Lobby Day 2009, it became evident that legislators from across Texas were gaining a better understanding of how the moving picture industry impacts the economy. Many legislators were already onboard; whereas, some legislators were early in their understanding. The force of everyone pulling in the same direction, starting with Governor Rick Perry and the 700+ constituents at the Capitol, was felt by all the legislators. It was hard to miss on the Senate floor, the House floor, and on the front lawn of the Capitol. It was a great day for the state of Texas and our economy will be better off for it. The bottom line; is, creating and retaining jobs in Texas. Our collective efforts on TXMPA Lobby Day 2009 contributed to the bottom line in a significant way. Many thanks to all who attended in person and to those that were there with us in spirit.”

Pretty sight, isn’t it? It’s not mine, in fact, I have never had success taking care of tropical fish. It’s just not my “thing”, even though I enjoy scenes like this. I do have an “aquarium” of sorts, but it has no glass, rock or water, only thoughts and dreams. My aquarium was a total mess for a long time, until I came to terms with this:

In order for things to flourish, they must have a good environment. This goes for people and fish and ideas too. You can have an aquarium, with some beautiful young fish but if you don’t take care of them (as I found out at age 10) soon algae grows in the tank, the fish start looking sickly, and then die off. Sounds simple, and it is, but looking at your life and your goals this way takes a little practice. It’s the same with ideas, projects, art, poetry, music, film, video, job search, family relations; whatever the passion, the aquarium concept holds true.

Once you have begun a project, if you don’t take steps to complete it, eventually it gets forgotten, goes away, and becomes something you just thought about a long time ago. Anyone who raises beautiful aquatic life successfully will tell you to start small, take care of a few guppies, then add more life, which requires more attentive care. Over time you can build something of true beauty share with others, like in the video posted here. The more you think about the fish you could have, and visualize their beauty, the more you “see” them in your mind, the more effort you will put into making that vision happen. It’s the same in life; I proposed to my wife because I could visualize the wonderful life I now have with her. But you have to feed the fish! If I spent every night out at the bar and ignored my family, the marriage would falter, eventually.

Also in business; I can talk about an intriguing or technically proficient video with a client, where we can both visualize it, but unless there is a budget, and then we step through the production process and edit and produce a final product, it doesn’t mean a thing to anyone. It would be akin to having a buddy who always talks about the amazing aquarium he will someday have, but never does anything to make it happen; years go by and you get sick of him talking about it. He has an aquarium but forgot to feed the fish.

It’s only real to you until it’s “real” in the world.

One of the most difficult things for me to absorb, ego-wise, is that an idea, however great my visualization of it is, means little to anyone else, and never will, until I do something about it. Ideas are common, the execution of ideas is a rare commodity. Personally I have identified several projects, including three documentary films and a music release for my band, and I can see them clearly, because I have identified them as projects I am committed to complete, and am taking steps to make them “real” in the world. But for years I went through life bewildered when friends didn’t react much when I spoke of my ideas, my dreams. Sure they were polite, but generally just gave me lip service on the subjects. Now I realize that I am the same way about a lot of what others talk about, because really that’s all it is – talk. There is no way anyone else will be able to visualize my ideas like I can, because they are mine, not theirs. It’s natural. Only when I complete steps to produce evidence of my work (trailers to the films, demos from the recording sessions) can those things start to become “real” to others. So I stopped expecting others to “get it” about what I do, until I have something to show. Even then, I expect it to take time, and that I will learn and adapt based on other people’s reactions along the way.

Again with the aquarium analogy:

Just because you have a clean tank, doesn’t mean it’s good for all fish. A freshwater fish won’t last long in saltwater, and some fish are predators, gobbling up weaker ones. Likewise, not every idea you have is suited for the business you are in and therefor should just remain an idea. Sometimes you get started on a project or quest for information, and discover you don’t really want to pursue it anymore, and that’s OK, just clean out the tank. Identify projects that you are truly passionate about, and focus on those. If you really want a tank with a beautiful coral reef, and pretty little clown fish darting about, then create the environment for it. Yours will be a very different tank than one created by someone who wants to raise aggressive creatures to watch them eat goldfish. Same in life, if you desire to be a nature photographer, but live in the city with no means to be in the wilderness, you could study and learn the craft, then take steps to move into an area more suitable to your dream. If you want it bad enough, you will work for years to achieve that goal. If, after taking some steps and researching the subject, you decide that the life of a nature photographer is not for you, then no problem, just flush that fish, and find one that will thrive where you are. So many people think they can’t achieve something, only because they only want to think about the end goal, but never really visualize it, and never identify steps to make it happen. Once again, they forgot to feed the fish.
Check out my tank.

Over the coming months, I will be posting to this blog about these individual projects, my efforts to make them “real” in the world. For now here’s an overview of our projects and an idea of what kind of fish they would be. It’s been fun to think of these things in this way, and I think fun is what Internet marketing and social networking should be all about.
A trio of Lion Fish:
Three documentary films in various stages of production with support of The Still Kickin’ Foundation, a 501C-3 non-profit organization. See Trace Documentaries Page
A hermit crab, getting bigger and more bold to venture out, day by day:
Trace Elements – Studio CD – see Trace Elements on MySpace – check out a few advance mixes from the CD
The Grouper:
Trace Productions – online since 1998, my core business site – see TraceProductions.com
Two Electric Eels:
CityB-roll and TexasB-roll – HD stock footage business – got the first eel in 2002, added second in 2008, they are also getting bigger, bolder day by day.. soon to make a big showing out of the rocks. See CityB-roll.com

I try to feed the fish everyday, whether that is adding more connections in Linkedin, FaceBook and MySpace, publishing posts to this blog, working on documentary treatments, whatever, I just keep feeding the fish. I am confident that if I keep it up, chances of them all dying off and going away are negligible. One of them might get sick sometime and die off, or one might gobble up another… But I will replace them, and learn from my mistakes. My desire is to have them all thrive, and to be in need a bigger tank.

What’s in yours?

Subscribe to this blog, we appreciate your interest in our aquarium! Also, if you want to show me your tank, sign up to Facebook and request me as a friend. Mention that you read this blog and I will be sure to add you. Then you can post articles, pictures, videos, related to your projects, your passions, your fish tank, and I will be sure to check them out. My email address is tracy@traceproductions.com. Thanks.

“The Golden Hour” is an elusive time, one of God’s miracles that happens twice a day, whether we notice or not. Just after sunrise and just before dusk everyday the sun gets low in the sky, making the shadows long and deep, giving definition and a certain quality to the subject that has been sought out by visual artists for centuries. Prior to photography, painters would often set up their easels in these spots in the day, when the light is just right.
As a Director of Photography I, along with everyone else in my trade, am consistently urging clients who want to capture natural beauty of talent, or spectacular exterior scenes, to let us wait for “the golden light” either early in the morning or late in the afternoon. I never knew where the term “golden hour” came from, and still don’t know for sure, but I am a fan of famous quotes and was reading Bartlett’s Famous Quotations when I came across this:

“Lost, yesterday, somewhere between sunrise and sunset, two golden hours, each set with sixty diamond minutes. No reward is offered, for they are gone forever.” – Horace Mann 1796-1859

I was astounded! It is so succinct, and expresses the feeling I have about sunsets and the “golden hour” to a tee… I just had to share it with you. So the next time your day is tough, life has dealt you a raw deal, wait around for the golden hour, and see how things can change around you.